Multiple genes relevant for the characterization, diagnosis, and manipulation of stroke

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of differentially expressed polynucleotide sequences or polypeptides for the characterization of stroke or progression thereof or progression of neurodegenerative processes as consequence thereof, a method for characterizing stroke, a method for identifying therapeutic agents for stroke and the use of such sequences for the development of a medicament.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/366,353, filed Mar. 20, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the use of differentially expressed polynucleotide sequences or polypeptides for the characterization of stroke or progression thereof or progression of neurodegenerative processes as consequence thereof, a method for characterizing stroke, a method for identifying therapeutic agents for stroke and the use of such sequences for the development of a medicament.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Stroke is a rather common and potentially harmful event that often leaves patients severely disabled for the rest of their lives. It is the result of either an interruption of blood and therefore oxygen supply to the brain, or bleeding in the brain that occurs when a blood vessel bursts. The reduced oxygen supply leads to shortage of energy in the affected brain regions and results in the death of neurons around the lesion. The degeneration spreads from the site that is affected by the reduced blood supply into regions which have at all times obtained sufficient oxygen.

[0004] Stroke results from a loss of blood flow to the brain caused by thrombosis or haemorrhage. With an incidence of 250-400 in 100.000 and a mortality rate of around 30%, stroke is a major public health problem. About one-half of the stroke survivors suffer from significant persisting neurological impairment and/or physical disability. Thus, the economic costs of stroke amount to many billions of dollars worldwide.

[0005] A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. As a consequence, brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or when they are damaged by sudden bleeding into the brain. Some brain cells die immediately after interruption of the blood flow into the brain, while others remain at risk for death and stay in a compromised state for hours. These damaged cells make up the so-called “ischemic penumbra”, and with timely treatment these cells could be saved. Stroke ultimately leads to infarction, the death of huge numbers of brain cells, which are eventually replaced by a fluid-filled cavity (or infarct) in the injured brain.

[0006] There are two major forms of stroke: ischemic—blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic—bleeding into or around the brain. An ischemic stroke can be caused by a blood clot (embolus or thrombus), which is blocking a vessel. It can also be caused by the narrowing of an artery due to the build-up of plaque (a mixture of fatty substances, including cholesterol and other lipids). The underlying pathological process called stenosis is often observed in arteriosclerosis, the most common blood vessel disease. About 80% of all strokes are ischemic strokes. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by the bursting of an artery in the brain. Subsequently, blood spews out into the surrounding tissue and upsets not only the blood supply but also the delicate chemical balance neurons require to function. Hemorrhagic strokes account for approximately 20% of all strokes.

[0007] A transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke, starts just like a stroke but then resolves leaving no noticeable symptoms or deficits. The occurrence of a TIA is a warning that the person is at risk for a more serious and debilitating stroke. About one-third of patients who have a TIA will have an acute stroke sometime in the future. The addition of other risk factors compounds a person's risk for a recurrent stroke. The average duration of a TIA is a few minutes. For almost all TIAs, the symptoms go away within an hour. There is no possibility to distinguish whether symptoms will be just a TIA or persist and lead to death or disability.

[0008] Recurrent stroke is frequent; about 25 percent of people who recover from their first stroke will have another stroke within 5 years. Recurrent stroke is a major contributor to stroke disability and death, with the risk of severe disability or death from stroke increasing with each stroke recurrence. The risk of a recurrent stroke is greatest right after a stroke, with the risk decreasing with time. About 3 percent of stroke patients will have another stroke within 30 days of their first stroke and one-third of recurrent strokes take place within 2 years of the first stroke.

[0009] The most important risk factors for stroke are hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Others include heavy alcohol consumption, high blood cholesterol levels, illicit drug use, and genetic or congenital conditions, particularly vascular abnormalities. People with multiple risk factors compound the destructive effects of these risk factors and create an overall risk greater than the simple cumulative effect of the individual risk factors.

[0010] Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. Depending on the affected brain region and the severity of the attack, post-stroke patients suffer from a variety of different symptoms. Some of the disabilities that can result from stroke include paralysis, cognitive deficits, speech problems, emotional difficulties, daily living problems, and pain. Stroke disability is devastating to the stroke patient and family, but therapies are available to help rehabilitate post-stroke patients. The mortality rate observed in ischemic stroke is around 30%. The time window for a medical treatment is narrow and limited to anticoagulants and thrombolytic agents, which must be given immediately (at latest 3 hours) after having a stroke. Unfortunately, there is no effective neuroprotective medication available, which is able to stop the delayed degeneration of neurons following the initial stroke attack.

[0011] Stroke symptoms appear suddenly. The following acute symptoms can be observed. Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, difficulties in talking or understanding speech, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble in walking, loss of balance and coordination. Severe headache with no known cause does also occur. Even more importantly, there is a variety of severe disabilities occurring and persisting in post-stroke patients. Paralysis is a frequent disability resulting from stroke. Cognitive deficits (problems with thinking, awareness, attention and learning) are also commonly observed. Post-stroke patients exhibit language deficits and also emotional deficits (like post-stroke depression). Furthermore, an uncommon type of pain, called central pain syndrome (CPS), can occur after having a stroke.

[0012] Currently the only effective treatment for thrombotic stroke is the use of anticoagulants (e.g. heparin), and thromobolytics (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator). Neuroprotective agents, which are effective in animal models, have generally proved ineffective in the clinic, and none are yet registered for use in stroke.

[0013] A number of experimental models have been developed for global ischemia and focal ischemia. The availability of these different models provides an opportunity to investigate mechanisms of stroke. Finding common features in different models or over several time points within one model should pro-vide better insight into the mechanisms critical for stroke, and comparison of the models should help to understand development, progression and consequences of stroke.

[0014] Most common global ischemia models are:

[0015] a) The Two Vessel Model

[0016] Models of transient global ischemia resulting in patterns of selective neuronal vulnerability are models that attempt to mimic the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest or hemodynamic conditions that result from severe systemic hypotension. Reversible high-grade forebrain ischemia is generated by bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion. Together with systemic hypo-tension conditions it reduces the blood flow to severe ischemic levels (Smith et al. 1984 Acta Neuropathol 64:319-332). This model of transient global ischemia has the advantage of a one stage surgical preparation, the production of a high-grade forebrain ischemia and the possibility to conduct chronic survival studies in order to assess the potential of neuroprotective drugs.

[0017] b) The Four Vessel Model

[0018] This model results in a high-grade forebrain ischemia but is produced in two stages, one to manipulate each of the CCA, and the second stage 24 h later to produce the forebrain ischemia. The advantage is that the second step can be produced in awake freely moving animals (Pulsinelli et al. 1982 Ann Neurol 11:491-498). Similar pathohistological results could be obtained for both vessel models.

[0019] c) The Cardiac Arrest Model

[0020] Forebrain ischemia models are of value to study cerebral ischemia but these models do not exactly mimic the hemodynamic consequences of a cardiac arrest, which results in a complete ischemia of the brain, spinal cord and extracerebral organs (Katz et al. 1995 J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 15:1032-1039). The initial cardiac arrest models from Safar et al. (1982 Protection of tissue against hypoxia Elsevier Biomedical Press; 147-170) or Korpaczew et al. (1982 Partol Fizjol Eksp Ter 3:78-80), were developed further by Katz et al. (1989 Resuscitation 17:39-53) and Pluta et al. (1991 Acta Neuropathologica 83:1-11) to models with controllable insult. Katz and colleagues (1995) have reported a reproducible outcome model of cardiac arrest with apneic asphyxia of 8 min, leading to the cessation of circulation at 3-4 min of apnea and resulting in cardiac arrest of 4-5 min. At 72 hr after injury, widespread patterns of ischemic neurons were found in many brain regions, including cerebral cortex, caudate putamen CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellum and brain stem.

[0021] Pluta et al. described a primary mechanical cardiac arrest model whereby global ischemia was induced by cardiac arrest for 3 to 10 min with survival periods of the animals from 3 min to 7 days.

[0022] Although these models have several limitations, they provide a method for studying the mechanisms of neuronal injury resulting from the clinically realistic cerebral insult and screening potential cerebral resuscitation therapies.

[0023] Focal Ischemia Models

[0024] Models of permanent or transient focal ischemia typically giving rise to localized brain infarction have routinely been used to investigate the pathophysiology of stroke. For example, models of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in a variety of species have gained increased acceptance due to their relevance to the human clinical setting.

[0025] a) the Permanent MCA Occlusion Models

[0026] Tamura and colleagues (1981 J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 1:53-60) developed a subtemporal approach as standard model of proximal MCA occlusion. In models of permanent MCA occlusion, electrocauterization of the MCA proximal to the origin of the lateral lenticulostriate arteries is utilized routinely. In these models, severe reductions in blood flow are seen within the ischemic core, with milder reductions in blood flow within the border or penumbral regions. The addition of moderate arterial hypotension has the effect of enlarging infarct volume.

[0027] b) The Transient MCA Occlusion Models

[0028] In human ischemic stroke, recirculation frequently occurs after focal ischemia. Thus, models of transient MCA occlusions have also been developed, mainly in rats or mice, whereby surgical clip or sutures are introduced to induce a transient ischemic insult.

[0029] Some further animal models for stroke are considered in several reviews like the articles of W. D. Dietrich (1998 Int Review of Neurobiology 42:55-101), Wiebers et al. (1990 Stroke 21:1-3) or Zivin and Grotta (1990 Stroke 21:981-983).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Object of the present invention is to identify and characterize development, conditions (status which elicits), progression and consequences of stroke on a molecular basis.

[0031] This object is met by the use of polynucleotide sequences selected from the group of sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof or the according polypeptides for the characterization of a) development and/or occurrence of stroke, b) the progression of the pathology of stroke and/or b) the consequences of the pathology of stroke, whereby the characterization is carried out outside of a living body.

[0032] Polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 are expressed sequence tags (ESTs) representing genes, which are differentially expressed under stroke, particularly under global ischemia in the cardiac arrest model (Pluta et al. 1991 Acta Neuropathol 83:1-11).

[0033] The model is explained in more detail in the literature and in the examples below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034]FIG. 1 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 37.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 79.

[0036]FIG. 3 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 35.

[0037]FIG. 4 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 57.

[0038]FIG. 5 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 70.

[0039]FIG. 6 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 66.

[0040]FIG. 7 shows changes in expression of SEQ ID NO: 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0041] The term “polynucleotide sequence” or “nucleic acid sequence” designates in the present application any DNA or RNA sequence, independent of the length. Thus this term can describe short sequences like PCR primers or probes for hybridization, as well as whole genes or cDNA of these genes.

[0042] The term “polypeptide” or “amino acid sequence” designates a chain of amino acids, independent of their length, however, in any case more than one amino acid.

[0043] As “homologues” of polynucleotide sequences such polynucleotide sequences are designated which encode the same type of protein as one of the polynucleotide sequences described herein. Accordingly as “homologues” of a polypeptide the polypeptides are designated, which have an amino acid sequence, wherein at least 70%, preferably 80%, more preferably 90% of the amino acids are identical to one of the proteins of the present invention and wherein the replaced amino acids preferably are replaced by homologous amino acids. As “homologous” amino acids are designated those, which have similar features concerning hydrophobicity, charge, steric features etc. Most preferred are amino acid sequences, containing the species- or family-dependent differences of the amino acid sequence. Particularly as “homologues” sequences are designated those, which correspond to one of the cited sequences in another species or individual. For example if in the present invention a rat model is used and the cited polynucleotide sequence encodes the rat protein, the according polynucleotide sequence and protein of a mouse or of a human is designated as “homologue”. Further splice variants and members of gene families are designated as homologues.

[0044] “Fragments” of a polynucleotide sequence are all polynucleotide sequences, which have at least 10 identical base pairs compared to one of the polynucleotide sequences shown in the present application or by the genes represented by these polynucleotide sequences. The term “fragment” encloses therefore such fragments as primers for PCR, probes for hybridization, DNA fragments included in DNA vectors like plasmids, cosmids, BACs or viral constructs, as well as shortened splice variants of the genes identified herein. As a fragment of a protein (polypeptide) amino acid sequences are designated which have at least three amino acids, preferably at least 10 amino acids. Therefore fragments serving as antigens or epitopes are enclosed in this designation.

[0045] In the present application the term “sequence” is used when either a polynucleotide sequence (=nucleic acid sequence) or a polypeptide (=amino acid sequence) or a protein is meant. That means, when it is irrelevant which type of sequence is used the type is not designated particularly, but with the more common term “sequence”.

[0046] In the present application the term “stroke” means the development, occurrence, progression and consequences of the disease state. Several features of the development, occurrence and consequences of this disease are described herein above.

[0047] The basis of the models and methods described in the present application is the examination and determination of the expression of genes, which are differentially expressed during development, conditions, progression and consequences of stroke. Therefore for the examination each sequence can be used which allows the determination of the expression rate of the considered gene. Such a sequence can be at least one of the polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, as well as the polypeptides encoded thereby, however, just as well polynucleotide sequences and the according polypeptides can be used which are (parts of) the genes represented by the polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88.

[0048] According to the invention it has been found, that the genes represented by the polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 are differentially expressed in the cardiac arrest model of stroke.

[0049] Therefore the present invention provides sequences, which represent genes, which are differentially expressed under stroke. Such polynucleotide sequences and the according polypeptides allow the determination and examination of stroke. Most of these sequences have not yet been regarded in relation to stroke. Sequences which are known to be differentially expressed in connection with stroke conditions are Apolipoprotein E, herein referred to as SEQ ID NO: 40, (2001 J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 21:1199-1207), β-amyloid precursor protein (APP), herein referred to as SEQ ID NO: 77 (1996 Neuroreport 7:2727-2731), Preproenkephalin, herein referred to as SEQ ID NO: 35 (1997 Brain Res 744:185-187), Cathepsin B, herein referred to as SEQ ID NO: 86 (1997 J Neurosurg 87:716-723).

[0050] For these examinations animal models can be used. As such a model any animal can be used wherein the necessary preparations can be carried out, however mammalian models are preferred, even more preferred are rodents. Most preferred animal models of the present invention are rat and mouse models.

[0051] The sequences of the present invention further can be used for diagnosing stroke of a human outside of the living body by determining the expression levels of at least one of the cited sequences in comparison to the non-disease status. During treatment period of a patient the expression of the presently shown sequences can also be used outside of the body for assessing the efficacy of stroke treatment. In this case blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or tissue is removed from the patient and expression is determined in the samples.

[0052] For determination and comparison of the expression levels of at least one of the genes identified in the present invention any of the commonly known methods can be used, either on RNA/cDNA level or on protein level. For example PCR, hybridization, micro array based methods, western blot or 2-D protein gel analysis are suitable methods. One preferred method is the digital expression pattern display method (DEPD method), explained in detail in WO99/42610. The method used for determination of expression levels is not restrictive, as long as expressed amounts can be quantified.

[0053] The sequences of the present invention can further be used to develop new animal models for stroke. By examination of the expression levels of at least one of the shown sequences, a procedure might be determined, which is useful for generating a suitable animal model for different interesting conditions. In particular, useful animal models might be transgenic, knock out, or knock in models.

[0054] In such a newly generated animal model as well as in one of the known models the efficacy of compounds can be tested, using techniques known in the art. As well assay systems can be used that are based on the shown sequences. Such assay systems may be in vivo, ex vivo or in vitro assays. In any case the models or assay systems are contacted with the compound(s) to be tested and samples are obtained from these models/systems, wherein expression levels of the sequences are determined and compared to the non-treated model/system.

[0055] Dependent of the model used the samples can be derived from whole blood, CSF or whole tissue, from cell populations isolated from tissue or blood or from single cell populations (i.e. cell lines).

[0056] In one embodiment of the invention cellular assays can be used. Preferred cells for cellular assays are eukaryotic cells, more preferably mammalian cells. Most preferred are neuronal-like cells, like SHSY5Y (neuroblastoma cell line), hippocampal murine HT-22 cells, primary cultures from astrocytes, cerebral cortical neuronal-astrocytic co-cultures, mixed neuronal/glial hippocampal cultures, cerebellar granular neuronal cell cultures, primary neuronal cultures derived from rat cortex (E15-17), or COS cells (African green monkey, kidney cells); CHO cells (Chinese hamster ovary), or HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney).

[0057] Whereas the comparison of the expression levels (disease/non-disease status) of at least one of the provided sequences might give information about the examined disease status, it is preferred to determine the expression levels of more than one of the sequences simultaneously. Thus several combinations of the sequences can be used at different time points. By combination of several sequences a specific expression pattern can be determined indicating and/or identifying the conditions of the disease. The more expression rates are determined simultaneously, the more specific the result of the examination might be. However, good results also can be obtained by combination of only a few sequences. Therefore for the present invention it is preferred to compare the expression rates of at least two of the sequences provided herein, more preferred of at least 4, further more preferred of at least 6 of the sequences.

[0058] Since the presently provided sequences represent genes, which are differentially expressed, the expression rates of the single genes can be increased or decreased independently from each other. “Independently” in this context means that the expression rate of each of the genes can but need not be influenced by each other. In any case expression levels different from the non-disease status might be a hint to the disease status, which is examined.

[0059] The disease status, which is considered in the present invention, is stroke. The preferred types of stroke are ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Consequences, which might be related to stroke, are among others severe headache, paralysis, cognitive deficits, speech problems, emotional difficulties, daily living problems, and central pain syndrome.

[0060] Independent whether stroke is diagnosed or characterized, a model for stroke is characterized, the efficacy of stroke treatment or the efficiency of a compound in a model shall be examined, the determination of the expression levels of at least one of the sequences is carried out outside of a living body. A method to obtain such results comprises: providing a sample comprising cells or body fluids expressing one or more genes represented by polynucleotide sequences selected from the group of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof; detecting expression of one or more of the genes in said cells; comparing the expression of the genes in the test cells to the expression of the same genes in reference cells whose expression stage is known; and identifying a difference in expression levels of the considered sequences, if present, in the test cell population and the reference cell population.

[0061] As mentioned above, detection of the expression of the genes can be carried out by any method known in the art. The method of detection is not limiting the invention.

[0062] Expression levels can be detected either on basis of the polynucleotide sequences or by detecting the according polypeptide, encoded by said polynucleotide sequence.

[0063] Preferred methods for detection and determination of the gene expression levels are PCR of cDNA, generated by reverse transcription of expressed mRNA, hybridization of polynucleotides (Northern, Southern Blot systems, In situ hybridization), DNA-microarray based technologies, detection of the according peptides or proteins via, e.g., Western Blot systems, 2-dimensional gel analysis, protein micro-array based technologies or quantitative assays like e.g. ELISA tests.

[0064] The most preferred method for quantitative analysis of the expression levels is the digital expression pattern display method (DEPD), described in detail in WO99/42610.

[0065] The sequences of the present invention can further be used for identifying therapeutic agents and their efficacy for treating stroke. For example a method can be used comprising: providing a test cell population comprising cells capable of expressing one or more genes represented by nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof; contacting said test cell population with the test therapeutic agent; detecting the expression of one or more of the genes in said test cell population; comparing the expression of the gene(s) in the test cell population to the expression of the gene(s) in a reference cell population whose disease stage is known; and identifying a difference in expression levels of the considered sequences, if present, in the test cell population and the reference cell population, thereby identifying a therapeutic agent for treating stroke.

[0066] Test cells can be obtained from a subject, an animal model or cell cultures of fresh cells or cell lines. Further in vitro assays may be used.

[0067] A method examining the different expression patterns of the differentially expressed gene(s) therefore can be used for testing agents and compounds for their efficiency for treatment of stroke. Which model is used is not relevant, as long as the model allows the determination of differences in expression amounts.

[0068] In such a model cells are contacted with the interesting agent or compound and expression of at least one of the genes considered in the present invention is determined in comparison to the expression of the same gene in cells which never have been contacted to the according agent/compound. Contacting the cells either can be affected by administering the agent/compound to an animal or by contacting isolated cells of tissue, CSF, or blood or cells of cell lines in culture with the agent/compound.

[0069] By examination of the influence the considered agent(s)/compound(s) have on the expression of at least one of the genes, the efficacy of the agent(s)/compound(s) can be estimated. This allows the decision whether it is worthwhile to develop a medicament containing such an agent or compound.

[0070] Whether the expression is determined on basis of mRNA generation or on basis of protein generation is not relevant, as long as the difference of the expression rate can be determined. Therefore both, the polynucleotide sequences, and the polypeptides or proteins shown in the present application can be used for the development or the identification of a medicament.

[0071] The development of a medicament can be desirable for example if the considered compound/agent has any influence on the regulation of the expression rate or on the activity of any polynucleotide sequence or polypeptide/protein of the present invention. Said influence can be for example acceleration, promotion, increase, decrease or inhibition of the expression or activity.

[0072] Said influence of a compound or agent can be examined by a method comprising contacting a sample comprising one of the nucleic acid sequences or of the polypeptides of the present invention with a compound that binds to said sequence in an amount sufficient to determine whether said compound modulates the activity of the polynucleotide or polypeptide/protein sequence.

[0073] By such a method a compound or agent modulating the activity of any of the nucleic acid sequences or any polypeptides of the present invention can be determined.

[0074] Furthermore the sequences itself can be used as a medicament.

[0075] An example for such a use is the use of a polynucleotide sequence as an antisense agent. Antisense agents, including but not limited to ribonucleotide or desoxyribonucleotide oligomers, or base-modified oligomers like phosphothioates, methylated nucleotides, or PNAs (peptide nucleic acids), can hybridize to DNA or mRNA, inhibiting or decreasing transcription or translation, respectively. Thus, polynucleotide sequences of a gene, which is increased in expression rate under stroke, can be used as antisense agents to decrease the expression rates of said gene. Further such polynucleotide sequences can be used for gene therapy.

[0076] Another example for such a use is the use of a polypeptide or a protein as a medicament. In case that the expression of a gene is decreased under stroke and therefore not “enough” protein is provided by the body to maintain natural (healthy) conditions, said protein can be administered as a medicament. In case a gene is increased under stroke, representing a protective beneficial or adaptive response of the brain, this effect can be further strengthened by adding even more of the corresponding protein as medicament.

[0077] A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polynucleotide sequence or a polypeptide according to the present invention can be any composition, which can serve as a pharmaceutical one. Salts or aids for stabilizing the sequences in the composition preferably are present.

[0078] For the determination of the expression of the relevant genes the generated sequences have to be detected. Therefore several reagents can be used, which are for example specific radioactive or non-radioactive (e.g., biotinylated or fluorescent) probes to detect nucleic acid sequences by hybridization, e.g., on DNA microarrays, primer sets for the detection of one or several of the nucleic acid sequences by PCR, antibodies against one of the polypeptides, or epitopes, or antibody- or protein-microarrays. Such reagents can be combined in a kit, which can be sold for carrying out any of the described methods.

[0079] Further the sequences defined in the present invention can be used to “design” new transgenic animals as model for stroke. Therefore the animals are “created” by manipulating the genes considered in the present application in a way that their expression in the transgenic animal differs from the expression of the same gene in the wild-type animal. In which direction the gene expression has to be manipulated (up- or down-regulation) depends on the gene expression shown in the present application. Methods of gene manipulation and methods for the preparation of transgenic animals are commonly known to those skilled in the art.

[0080] For further examinations or experiments it might be desirable to include any of the nucleic acids of the present invention into a vector or a host cell. By including the sequences in a host cell for example cellular assays can be developed, wherein the genes, polynucleotide sequences and the according proteins/polypeptides further can be used or examined. Such vectors, host cells and cellular assays therefore shall be considered as to fall under the scope of the present invention.

[0081] The following examples are provided for illustration and are not intended to limit the invention to the specific example provided.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Rat Cardiac Arrest Model

[0082] Cardiac arrest was performed in female Lewis-rats at 3 months of age (150-220 g), resulting in total cessation of blood flow leading to global cerebral ischemia. After 10 min of ischemia, the animals were resuscitated by external heart massage and ventilation. The group size was 2×3 animals.

[0083] For induction of cardiac arrest, a special blunt-end, hook-like probing device was inserted into the right parasternal line across the third intracostal spaces into the chest cavity. Next, the probe was gently pushed down the vertebral column until a slight resistance from the presence of the right pulmonary veins was detected. The probe then was tilted 10-20° caudally. Then, the probe was rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about 135-140° under the inferior vena cava. At this position, the occluding part of the device was positioned right under the heart vessel bundle (inferior vena cava, superior right and left vena cava, ascending aorta, and pulmonary trunk). The pulmonary veins (left and right) were closed by the rotation of the occluding part of the hook. In the last step, the probe was pulled up with concomitant compression of the heart vessel bundle against the sternum. The end of the occluding portion of the hook was then positioned in the left parasternal line in the second intercostal space. To prevent upward movement of the chest and to insure complete ligation of the vessels, simple finger pressure was applied downward the sternum, producing total hemostasis and subsequent ventricular arrest. The effect of the whole procedure is total cessation of both arterial and venous blood flow, it essentially represents the onset of clinical death. After 2.5-3.5 min, the probe was released and removed from the chest by reverse procedural succession, and the animals remained in this position until the beginning of resuscitation.

[0084] The resuscitation procedure consisted of external heart massage until spontaneous heart function was recovered and controlled respiration occurred. During this time, air was pumped through a polyethylene tube inserted intratracheally that was connected to a respirator. External heart massage was produced by the index and middle fingers rapidly striking against the chest (sternum) for 1-2 min at the level of the fourth intracostal area with a frequency of 150-240/min in continuous succession. The ratio of strikes to frequency of ventilation was 6:1 or 8:1.

[0085] An electrocardiogram (lead II-EEG) was recorded continuously during the course of the experiment. Moreover, heart activity was monitored using a loud speaker connected to the output lead of the electroencephalograph. Additionally, the cranial bones were exposed at the sagittal and coronal sutures, where silver-needle electrodes were attached for recording on an electrocorticogram (ECoG). All measurements were registered on a ten-channel electroencephalogram (Accutrace-100A, Beckmann).

[0086] 2×3 sham operated animals served as controls. These animals were treated similarly to the experimental group with one major exception. Under anesthesia, the probe was inserted through the chest wall into the plural cavity as has already been described above but without further manipulation and torsion of the probe. The probe remained in the chest for essentially the same time period (3.5 min) as in the experimental group. The control animals were then returned to their cages for recovery.

[0087] Tissue preparation occurred 0.5 hr, 1 hr, 6 hrs, 3 days, 7 days and 2 years after surgery. Tissues were frozen on liquid nitrogen prior to RNA preparation.

[0088] FIGS. 1 to 7 show results of several transcripts differentially expressed in the cardiac arrest model over several time points. Each sequence is examined in their expression levels over a time period of 0.5 hrs after cardiac arrest to 2 years after surgery and compared to sham operated controls. Genes are described as differentially expressed when the sequence is up- or down-regulated at one or more time points with a certain statistical relevant significance value. Over time the expression pattern can be determined as up-regulated in one to seven time points; as down regulated in one to seven time points or as mixed regulated if the type of regulation changes between up- and down-regulation at different time points.

[0089] X-axis describes the time points analyzed by DEPD, 0.5 h=0.5 hrs post operation, 1 h+1 hr post operation, 3 h=3 hrs post operation, 6 h=6 hrs post operation, 3 d=day 3 post operation, 7 d=day 7 post operation, 2 y=2 years post operation.

[0090] The Y-axis shows delta h, which represents the normalized difference of expression (peak height) of a certain transcript between a control group and a treated group. x-fold difference in gene expression is calculated by:

1+delta h/1−delta h

[0091] 0=no change to control, +=up regulation, −=down regulation; (0.2=1.5 fold; 0.3=1.86 fold; 0.4=2.33 fold; 0.5=3 fold).

EXAMPLE 2 Determination of Expression Levels

[0092] Gene expression profiling by DEPD-analysis starts with the isolation of 5-10 μg total RNA. In a second step, double-stranded cDNA is synthesized. Through an enzymatic digest of the cDNA with three different type IIS restriction enzymes, three pools with short DNA-fragments containing single-stranded overhangs are generated. Afterwards, specific DNA-adaptor-molecules are ligated and in two subsequent steps 3.072 PCR reactions are performed by using 1024 different unlabelled 5′ primer and a common FAM-fluorescent-labelled 3′-primer in the last PCR step. Subsequently, the 3072 PCR pools are analyzed on an automatic capillary electrophoresis sequencer.

[0093] Differential gene expression pattern of single fragments are determined by comparison of normalized chromatogram peaks from the control groups and corresponding operated animals.

EXAMPLE 3 Sequencing and Databank Analysis of the Obtained Sequences

[0094] Differentially expressed peaks are confirmed on polyacrylamide gels by using radioactive labelled 3′ primer instead of the FAM fluorescent primer. Differentially expressed bands are cut from the gel. After an elution step of up to 2 hrs in 60 μl 10 mM Tris pH 8, fragments are re-amplified by PCR using the same primer as used in the DEPD analysis. Resulting PCR products are treated with a mixture of Exonuclease I and shrimp alkaline phosphatase prior to direct sequencing. Sequencing reactions are performed by using DYEnamic-ET-dye terminator sequencing kit (Amersham) and subsequently analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (Megabace 1000, Amersham).

[0095] Prior to a BLAST sequence analysis (Altschul et al. 1997 Nucleic Acids Res 25:3389-3402) against GenBank (Release No. 126), all sequences are quality verified and redundant sequences or repetitive motifs are masked. SEQ- accession fragment ID number name length [bp] 1 Z99755 Human DNA sequence from clone CTA-714B7 on 220 chromosome 22q12.2-13.2 Contains pseudogene similar to part of COX7B (Cytoclirome c oxidase subunit VIIb) 2 no hit found in DB 296 3 BF418899 UI-R-BJ2-bqk-c-03-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BJ2 Rattus 287 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BJ2-bqk-c-03-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 4 no hit found in DB 91 5 AB023781 Rattus norvegicus mRNA for cathepsin Y, partial cds 258 6 BF420410 UI-R-BJ2-bqb-g-04-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BJ2 Rattus 200 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BJ2-bqb-g-04-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 7 M35826 Rat mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase (NDI) gene, 347 complete cds 8 AK019199 Mus musculus 11 days embryo cDNA, RIKEN full- 183 length enriched library, clone:2700005I17, full insert sequence 9 BF413204 UI-R-BT1-bny-a-04-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BT1 Rattus 214 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BT1-bny-a-04-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 10 X16555 Rat PRPS2 mRNA for phosphoribosylpyrophosphate 159 synthetase subunit II 11 AK017685 Mus musculus 8 days embryo cDNA, RIKEN full- 195 length enriched library, clone:5730466L18, full insert sequence 12 no hit found in DB 164 13 Y00964 M. musculus mRNA for beta-hexosaminidase 181 14 no hit found in DB 110 15 L17127 Rattus norvegicus proteasome RN3 subunit mRNA, 274 complete cds 16 no hit found in DB 132 17 BG380139 UI-R-CS0-btp-e-04-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CS0 Rattus 139 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CS0-btp-e-04-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 18 D86215 Rattus norvegicus mRNA for NADH:ubiquinone 276 oxidoreductase, complete cds 19 AK005320 Mus musculus adult male cerebellum cDNA, RIKEN 129 full-length enriched library, clone:1500031J01, full insert sequence 20 no hit found in DB 118 21 no hit found in DB 154 22 no hit found in DB 103 23 no hit found in DB 73 24 no hit found in DB 107 25 BI287855 UI-R-CW0s-ccm-a-07-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CW0s Rattus 217 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CW0s-ccm-a-07-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 26 no hit found in DB 151 27 no hit found in DB 200 28 AC016673 Homo sapiens BAC clone RP11-17N4 from 2, 217 complete sequence 29 AB071989 Mus musculus mRNA for Spop, partial cds 310 30 no hit found in DB 211 31 AF178845 Rattus norvegicus calmodulin mRNA, complete cds 410 32 J02701 Rat Na+, K+-ATPase beta subunit protein mRNA, 341 complete cds 33 X12553 Rat mRNA for liver Cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIa 411 34 no hit found in DB 118 35 Y07503 Rat mRNA for preproenkephalin (A) 186 36 X14876 Rat mRNA for transthyretin 205 37 no hit found in DB 202 38 AI54730 UI-R-C3-sr-b-11-0-UI.s1 UI-R-C3 Rattus norvegicus 200 cDNA clone UI-R-C3-sr-b-11-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 39 M27315 Rattus norvegicus Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (Co 146 II) gene 40 J02582 Rat apolipoprotein E gene, complete cds 139 41 no hit found in DB 234 42 U65579 Human mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase- 291 ubiquinone Fe-S protein 8, 23 kDa subunit precursor (NDUFS8) nuclear mRNA encoding mitochondrial protein, complete cds 43 AF173082 Mus musculus LIN-7 homolog 2 (MALS-2) mRNA, 113 complete cds 44 no hit found in DB 197 45 U70268 Rattus norvegicus mud-7 mRNA, 3′ UTR 206 46 X96997 O.aries SOX-2 gene 146 47 AK020957 Mus musculus adult male corpora quadrigemina 181 cDNA, RIKEN full-length enriched library, clone:B230104P22, full insert sequence 48 no hit found in DB 272 49 BC012314 Mus musculus, Similar to ferritin heavy chain, clone 73 MGC:19422 IMAGE:3488821, mRNA, complete cds 50 BB452941 BB452941 RIKEN full-length enriched, 12 days 125 embryo spinal ganglion Mus musculus cDNA clone D130020J05 3′, mRNA sequence 51 AK019418 Mus musculus 13 days embryo head cDNA, RIKEN 365 full-length enriched library, clone:3110018K01, full insert sequence 52 J01435 Rattus norvegicus mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6 175 gene 53 BF387893 UI-R-CA1-bbw-a-03-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CA1 Rattus 182 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CA1-bbw-a-03-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 54 AB033713 Rattus norvegicus mitochondrial gene for Cytochrome 101 b, partial cds 55 no hit found in DB 123 56 U53513 Rattus norvegicus glycine-, glutamate-, 76 thienylcyclohexylpiperidine-binding protein mRNA, complete cds 57 AK004546 Mus musculus adult male lung cDNA, RIKEN full- 261 length enriched library, clone:1200002H13, full insert sequence 58 no hit found in DB 269 59 AY004290 Rattus norvegicus scg10-like-protein mRNA, complete 277 cds 60 no hit found in DB 228 61 no hit found in DB 119 62 BF544005 UI-R-E0-ce-c-04-0-UI.r1 UI-R-E0 Rattus norvegicus 117 cDNA clone UI-R-E0-ce-c-04-0-UI 5′, mRNA sequence 63 no hit found in DB 217 64 no hit found in DB 269 65 no hit found in DB 162 66 BC011132 Mus musculus, Similar to special AT-rich sequence 200 binding protein 1, clone MGC:18461 IMAGE:4164993, mRNA, complete cds 67 AJ278701 Rattus norvegicus mRNA for cytosolic branched chain 182 aminotransferase (Bcatc gene) 68 M14512 Rat Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase alpha(+) isoform catalytic subunit 207 mRNA, complete cds 69 U42975 Rattus norvegicus Shal-related potassium channel 268 Kv4.3 mRNA, complete cds 70 BC004706 Mus musculus, heterogeneous nuclear 285 ribonucleoprotein C, clone MGC:5715 IMAGE:3499283, mRNA, complete cds 71 BE101398 UI-R-BJ1-aud-e-10-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BJ1 Rattus 158 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BJ1-aud-e-10-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 72 AF073297 Mus musculus small EDRK-rich factor 2 (Serf2) 144 mRNA, complete cds 73 D32249 Rattus norvegicus mRNA for neurodegeneration 250 associated protein 1, complete cds 74 BF391228 UI-R-CA1-bcq-g-07-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CA1 Rattus 122 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CA1-bcq-g-07-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 75 BE109851 UI-R-CA0-axi-b-04-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CA0 Rattus 157 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CA0-axi-b-04-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 76 no hit found in DB 107 77 AY011335 Rattus norvegicus amyloid beta precursor protein 254 (App) gene, partial cds 78 BC013540 Mus musculus, Similar to retinal short-chain 208 dehydrogenase/reductase 1, clone MGC:19224 IMAGE:4241608, mRNA, complete cds 79 X52311 Rat unr mRNA for unr protein with unknown function 300 80 M29358 Rat ribosomal protein S6 mRNA, complete cds 192 81 AC068987 UI-R-CA0-bkh-f-06-0-UI.s1 UI-R-CA0 Rattus 300 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-CA0-bkh-f-06-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 82 AC068987 UI-R-BO1-aqb-b-02-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BO1 Rattus 328 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BO1-aqb-b-02-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 83 no hit found in DB 186 84 M23953 UI-R-BJ0p-aio-h-09-0-UI.s1 UI-R-BJ0p Rattus 370 norvegicus cDNA clone UI-R-BJ0p-aio-h-09-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence 85 AK018721 Mus musculus adult male kidney cDNA, RIKEN full- 441 length enriched library, clone:0610007M20, full insert sequence 86 X82396 R. norvegicus mRNA for cathepsin B 412 87 no hit found in DB 149 88 X82550 R. norvegicus mRNA for ribosomal protein L41 207

EXAMPLE 4 Comparison of Differentially Expressed Sequences Over Several Time Points in the Cardiac Arrest Model

[0096] 0.5 hr, 1 hr, 3 hrs, 6 hrs, 3 days, 7 days, and 2 years survival time of the animals were chosen as time points for gene expression profiling of the cardiac arrest model. After DEPD analysis peaks obtained as differentially expressed at least at one time point were compared over time to control within the cardiac arrest stroke model. Results are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 SEQ-ID No. Regulation 1 down 7d 2 down 7d 3 down 7d 4 down 7d 5 up 3d/up 7d 6 up 3d 7 up 3d 8 down 3d 9 down 3d 10 up 3d 11 down 3d 12 up 3d 13 up 3d 14 up 7d 15 up 7d 16 up 3d 17 down 7d 18 up 7d 19 down 7d 20 down 7d 21 up 7d 22 up 3d/down 7d 23 up 3d 24 down 3d 25 down 7d 26 up 3d 27 down 3d 28 up 3d 29 down 3d 30 down 3d 31 down 7d 32 up 3d 33 up 7d 34 up 3d 35 up 3d/up 7d 36 up 7d 37 up 7d 38 down 7d 39 up 7d 40 up 7d 41 down 7d 42 up 7d 43 up 7d 44 down 7d 45 down 7d 46 up 7d 47 up 7d 48 down 7d 49 up 3d 50 down 7d 51 down 7d 52 up 7d 53 up 3d 54 up 3d 55 up 3d 56 up 3d 57 down 3d 58 down 3d 59 down 3d 60 down 3d 61 up 3d 62 down 3d 63 up 3d 64 up 3d 65 up 3d 66 up 3d/down 7d 67 up 3d 68 up 3d 69 down 3d 70 down 3d/down 7d 71 up 3d 72 up 3d 73 up 3d 74 down 3d 75 down 2y 76 up 2y 77 up 2y 78 down 2y 79 down 2y 80 down 2y 81 up 2y 82 up 2y 83 up 2y 84 up 2y 85 up 2y 86 down 2y 87 up 2y 88 up 2y

[0097] For each DNA fragment, gene expression patterns are obtained in the stroke model compared over several time points. “Up”, “down”, and “mixed” is defined as time dependent expression at one or more time points in the cardiac arrest model compared to the non-disease model.

1 88 1 220 DNA Rattus norvegicus 1 gggagtcaat aaatcttatt agacataaca ggtacccaag gacgacagtc tactctaagc 60 tagctaccat atgcgtatca atgttgcaat ctcgttatgt ccagctgagg atcagaagcc 120 tgactattag atccgctata ccaggatata cctacgatcc cgtaggtgtc atgacgtatc 180 ataactagta ctgagacggg aaactgcaca taaaaaaaaa 220 2 296 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(296) n = A,T,C or G 2 tgaatcctag gatggatgag cgtgtctcat attataaccg tatacatcgt cattactcat 60 tgancgaaca gtataggtcg cgagaggagt ggtgctacca actatcaggc gcgttacttg 120 aggtgtcgat acgtctgcag ctcccgtagc ccgcagaatt atggtacatg aatcatatgt 180 attcgctaag gttctatccg tactggtaga ccagggctct ggaccatagt ctcatactca 240 aagtactaca tagactcaaa tgacagttca tgacgaacaa gtacacaaac aacaaa 296 3 287 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(287) n = A,T,C or G 3 gtgggcgcaa ngaccantnc cccctaaaat ttntaaaacc ngnagggatt anatttnatt 60 cttctcagac aggtgaggnc ccactaagtc ctcggaagca aatagctgcg gtctcagaga 120 gcacangatc gttggccttg nattcatggc tgttgacagc tgtccatgcc atgatcatga 180 tttcgatatc aatgcttttc atnttagaat atgtanacat accgaagtga gtttgtgaca 240 ctattttaac ataaaatttc taacactcaa caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 287 4 91 DNA Rattus norvegicus 4 tactcttcca tacaagtcct atacacactt ttatgtacca ttgattgatc ctactgccct 60 tcttactttt cactcaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 91 5 258 DNA Rattus norvegicus 5 gtggaggctg agtgctacct atgatgtctt gaagtatatc acaattatct gtaatcctca 60 tcttcagact gcttccctcc accgtagact gtgcttcctc ctccagcgtg ccctgcatgg 120 cctagctcca gacgtcgaga gaggacagct atcgtctagg acagttctgg tgttaccctg 180 gagtccacgg gaggtgaact agtccagact gcctgagatg agtacagtat ctggcgtcac 240 caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 258 6 200 DNA Rattus norvegicus 6 ttctcgcctc gtactttgct ggcttcctct cattcacaat ctgtcttatt gtgacccatc 60 tgagatttcc agtagtagtc tcattacaac agcgagatga cattcgtatc ctcatagata 120 taatgagtca caattctggt aatcatctaa attcacacag ttctcttact aaagtctctc 180 aatctcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 200 7 347 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(347) n = A,T,C or G 7 caagcggagg acatcgtcct catcttcata ggccgagcta caccaacatt attctatcta 60 atcgccctaa catctatcgt attcctaggc cccttatatc atatcaagtt accctgaatt 120 atactcaagc agcttcataa gcagaaacac atacttctat ccacacactt tcctactgaa 180 tcgcgagcat cctaccgccg cggtggcgag tatgaccaac tggatgcacc tccgtatgga 240 gaaaatttcc tcccacntaa cacgtagcat tctcgcagta tgatacattt gcgctgggca 300 atttgccagt agcagtgaac ttccatgcct acaggtataa aaaaaaa 347 8 183 DNA Rattus norvegicus 8 caaggcctca ctgtctgacg tcctccacag gtcctagctt cagctgaaat gttgcttctg 60 cagttttgtg tgcagttccc aactttctgc acagggacga tctttgtccc tgatcctgaa 120 gagtagaaat ggttcttaga aaagatttca aataaagtct gcacatcaaa aaaaaaaaaa 180 aaa 183 9 214 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(214) n = A,T,C or G 9 ggggggcggc agaggcaatt gtactactga tgttttatct agcttnagcc tgtgcccact 60 ctgatttgct cctgcaacca tacagctgtg gcatgtaatg aagtcctgtt gtgtgtccga 120 tgccccgagc ctctacattc aagcagcgaa tagagtgtga gagcaaggcc ttgtgaatca 180 gatgaaggat cgaagtgaaa aaaaaaaaaa caaa 214 10 159 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(159) n = A,T,C or G 10 gtatctttct ctcancttac tgtcctatat ttcaatgaaa caacaaggca cttctctatt 60 tcatcattaa aagtggacaa cctatcattt tccttctcac caagaagagg atttgcctgt 120 gtacctaaag cttaggaatg ctaacaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 159 11 195 DNA Rattus norvegicus 11 aagtgcgagt gtaacattta gcatgacagt ctgtacctga tcactgtact gctcttacac 60 agtctggtca cagaatggga ggctagggtt gttgactgat ccagacccca actggcaact 120 tcatgtatgt tttcaaccat ccccttagtg gttctacttc aaaatagaag aaagacaaca 180 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 195 12 164 DNA Rattus norvegicus 12 ataccttgtg tcgcagctag tacgcttcta gacttcagag tctggatctc tatgcatccg 60 ctggtagagc tgtgcttgat agtacctcat aggctgcgta cgatcacgct ggccgcaagc 120 atatctgtca ttagatagga ggaatccaag aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 164 13 181 DNA Rattus norvegicus 13 aaacgctgcg aaccttctca ctccttacct acttttatct acgatcatac ttggaccacg 60 tgacataagt ctacagcact acagctctaa tcatgttgct tctgaacatc atgtacatta 120 atatttgtta ggcaattaat taaaataaac aatcttttta tgcgactaaa aaaaaaataa 180 a 181 14 110 DNA Rattus norvegicus 14 ccgtcttgga tgtgctgtct gactttctct ctatgtgaat agtcttactg ttcatctaca 60 tacattaaat taaaatgaag attcttatga ctcaacaaaa aaaaacaaaa 110 15 274 DNA Rattus norvegicus 15 atggagcgcg cgtcaacatg ctggtctatc gattacgctc gttcgtataa tccggtttca 60 ggttgctact gttacttaaa ctaggtcgtg gacgatagaa ggaccactgt cagcacagac 120 caactgggac attgctcaca tgatcagtgg ctttgaatga aatccagatc aagtgtccta 180 gagttgacgc ttggcccttg tgaacgtgac tgtagctggc tcaaaggcag acttttgtga 240 tcctaaatca gtccttcgaa ctgaaaaaaa aaaa 274 16 132 DNA Rattus norvegicus 16 cctcgacgcg gggcaaccga ccggcgccgt cagacctaga ataatgtcca ggttactctt 60 ctactagcag tactgtcata gctaggctct agctcaatta agaaatgtag gcgatgagaa 120 aaaaaaaaaa aa 132 17 139 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(139) n = A,T,C or G 17 ctccggtcgc tctcccgaaa tactagcctc tatgttttga aactacgaga ncagangaca 60 ctaccaaagc acatgtagag gttctcgaaa cgataatgaa ataaacggta atgacttctt 120 cacacaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 139 18 276 DNA Rattus norvegicus 18 aaaagataca gtgagaagct ggagttggtc aattggaacc agatgttaaa aaattagaaa 60 acttgcttca gggtggtgaa gtagaagagg tgattcttca ggctgaaaaa gaactaagtc 120 tggcaagaaa aatgttgcag tggaagccct gggagccact ggtggaggag ccccctgcta 180 accagtggaa gtggccaata taatccccgt gtctgatgat ggatgtggat ctaatgtgca 240 attaaatgtt ctgtgatgct aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 276 19 129 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(129) n = A,T,C or G 19 ccgtggagng gtacggaccg gagtccaaac tttntagttg gctgtntnca ttagatatgg 60 atcaccctga atgctcctaa taaacgtcgg aaagcctana ttatcacaac tccaaaaaaa 120 aaaaaaaaa 129 20 118 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(118) n = A,T,C or G 20 cctacnaaac gagcgcggca cgtcgtgtcc tagtgtgtat tgtggctgtc ctctgagttg 60 gacatacttg tatcgtcttc aatcaagaca tgtctgtgta cactaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 118 21 154 DNA Rattus norvegicus 21 gctgctgcag cgactagtca ggactggaca tatagacagg gtgcgggtcc caatcgctcc 60 tgtgactgca ctggggcagc tgaagtgcag gaccttgcga ctagattgaa cgtcgtgatg 120 agactagtct cgtccttaaa taaaaaaaaa aaaa 154 22 103 DNA Rattus norvegicus 22 gggtggccgc cgcctcggat ctcatccttt tctctgacta catcattgca tttagcggta 60 gccgatgtag tatactaata ggcagacaac aaaaaaaaaa aaa 103 23 73 DNA Rattus norvegicus 23 tatctaagct caacttagct attatgctgt aggatgactg tgatactaca gttgttatca 60 aaaaaaaaaa aaa 73 24 107 DNA Rattus norvegicus 24 gcgcccgtcg ggtctgctct tcatatatca ttcttcttct ttattagttt taggttcctt 60 ctagcattca tgatatagct tacaaatatc ggaaacaaaa aaaaaaa 107 25 217 DNA Rattus norvegicus 25 actgcactaa cacgcactca ccttttgcct tctgccctca gccttcccgt ctgttcccca 60 tgttctttcc caaggaatct agccttgagt ccagccacca attgtctcac aatacacagt 120 gtggtattct tatcctctga aagagggctg aagggctgag aatggagtca ataaagcaag 180 gaagcaaaca tcctgtttct gccaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 217 26 151 DNA Rattus norvegicus 26 tccccccgag gccctaaggg ggctctgctc tcttctctct cttccttata tttatactcc 60 tagagcatac aaaaggacac tatctttaaa acaagaaata atatatatcc tatgaacata 120 tagtatagct aagtgcaaaa acaaaaaaaa a 151 27 200 DNA Rattus norvegicus 27 taacactgtg gacaggccaa ggcatatatt gcttcttctt agcattgcct acacacatct 60 gcagcgttcc tctaagagct ggccctgtga caggggtctg gggatttagc tcagtgttag 120 agcgcttgcc taggaagcgc aaggccctgg gattcggtcc ccagatctag aaaaaaaaga 180 acctaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 200 28 217 DNA Rattus norvegicus 28 ctggctgatg acccaacagg aagaaagacc ctggtgaacg ctactctctg ggacctccct 60 ttttgtgacc cgaaatgcct gtgcagtttt tcctgtccat cagccaaaaa tccaccccta 120 gcagagatcc aacaaacaga aagttcacct tgccacgcac tctgtcctct cctcttccat 180 gcattaaatt atgtttttag aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 217 29 310 DNA Rattus norvegicus 29 tgtgactgca gtaacgcgcg gtcttgcggt ttactctgtg tcggggagat gtaccatggc 60 cacccagact ttaacagcac taaataactt agggagctgg gggagggaag ggcccaggac 120 tcgggccact cagcctaatg aaaccctgtt gctctgtcac cgtgtgccct ttggcctgac 180 caagtttgac actgggattc agtttaggcg ccagcctcaa gcacatccca gcagtggtac 240 ttcggagaaa tcagcatctg actgagcaga acaaatcgtc aggtgcctgg agcaaaaaaa 300 aaaaaaaaaa 310 30 211 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(211) n = A,T,C or G 30 tctcctgcct ttgtcctgtc ttctctctat ccctctctat acgtctctgt atattttacc 60 ggaccttccc gatcnatgct gtgtacgaaa tacatggtga cgcctaggca attcctatga 120 tacttctacg tatgctagat gaagcttata cgtacttaga tagataactt acaaaataaa 180 gtcttgatat cagtagacaa aaaaacaaaa a 211 31 410 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(410) n = A,T,C or G 31 gtgactgtga acnggcgtcg tntcgatgca cggtccgtgg natctcttna aggaggaccc 60 ccctacntat cggactgtcc ncattncagc tggctcctgc ccangtgatt taatataaca 120 ttcattggnn tgatcgataa tgttanggta caccncgtgg cacattgcat nggagtgaag 180 tgaacaaggc tgtcaccaaa tcacacacgt tttaataaga aatgtttact aagggagcat 240 ctttggactc tctgttttaa aaccttgtga accatgactc ggagccagca gagtaggctg 300 tgtctgtgga cttgagcaca ccatcaacat tgctgttcag gaaattataa tttacgtcca 360 ttccaagttg taaatgctag tcttttattt tttttttccc aanaaaaaan 410 32 341 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(341) n = A,T,C or G 32 ccaactcact gggacactga aatccntatt gagtgtaagg cgtatggtga gaacattggg 60 tacagtgaga aagaccgttt tcagggacgc tttgatgtaa aaattgaagt taagagctga 120 tcacaagcac aaatctttcc cactagccat ttaataagtt gaaagaaaaa gatacacaaa 180 cctactagtc ttgaacaaac tgtcatacgt atgggaccta cacttaatct ctatgcttta 240 cactagcttc tgcatttaat aggttagaat gtaaatttaa agtgtagcaa tagcaacaaa 300 atatttattc tactgtaaat gacaaaagaa aaaaataaaa a 341 33 411 DNA Rattus norvegicus 33 ggtgactcgt gcgctgccgg tggtgggagt gagcatgctc aacgtttgcc tgaagtcgcg 60 acacgaagag cacgagagac ccgagttcgt cgcctacccc catctccgca tcaggactaa 120 gcccttcccc tggggagatg gtaaccatac cctcttccac aatcctcaca tgaacccgct 180 tccgactggc tatgaagatg agtaaagaga acctggctct tcgcccaggc gacaagggac 240 cacagcactg atttggaccc tgactcttgt gtgtggacca cgaaagccca ttggatgctc 300 agctcatctt tcctttatca gatggtgacc attactttgc tcctccatcc ctttgctcgt 360 aagaggagat ggcttaaata aataacttga actgagaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 411 34 118 DNA Rattus norvegicus 34 cggacgaata gatcgtaacg acttactctc tgctcttaag gacgaactgc tgtccccacg 60 cgaactaagt tcaagtaaga gccagccggt agcgatacga acaagaaaca caacaaaa 118 35 186 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(186) n = A,T,C or G 35 cngcnaagct gtgattcagg ggttgctgta ttcttttgag tctggaagct cagtattggt 60 ctctgtggct atgttgttat catgctgaaa cagtctgtta cctcatccct tctgacaaaa 120 cgtcaataaa tgcttattng tatataaata ataaacccgt gaacccaact gcaaaaaaaa 180 aaaaaa 186 36 205 DNA Rattus norvegicus 36 ccccgggaga ctagcacact gctgtcgtca gtacctccag aactgaggga cccagcccag 60 gaggacagga tcttgccaaa gcagtagctt cccatttgta ctgaaacagt gttcttggct 120 ctataaaccg tgttagcaac tcgggaagat gccgtgaaac gttcttatta aaccaccttt 180 atttcattca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 205 37 202 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(202) n = A,T,C or G 37 gcaggaccgc agctttatga ctgcatgttt ggatgttagc tctcgtctta tgagtcatcc 60 actgcggatg cacttggata tgcttattgc gtattcctca tctgtacttg tttgtgcgat 120 atcgttattt cgtgactatg tattccagct cttgtgtctn catcgatnat cgactgttga 180 acactcaaga aaaaaaaaaa aa 202 38 200 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(200) n = A,T,C or G 38 aaagggacta actantgatt attagactgg catttactta gataaagttt gtggggccag 60 attctttcca gacatgtgat tcacatacag gaatttctta cacatccacc tctcccctcg 120 tgcagtatgg ccctgatgct taaaatctga gtaactaaga catctttgaa gatttaaacc 180 aagtaatgca aaaaaaaaaa 200 39 146 DNA Rattus norvegicus 39 agccagtaac gacagctatc taggaccaag ctctgaaatt ggcggctcag atcacagctt 60 catacccatg gtactagaaa tagtgcctct aaaatatttc gaaaactgat cagcttctat 120 aattcaaacc aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 146 40 139 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(139) n = A,T,C or G 40 caaaatacgt taatatgaac antcactacg cctttacgta anatcatgac agccaggtgg 60 ccttgtccca agcaccactc tggccctctg gatggccctt gcttaataaa tgattctcca 120 agcaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 139 41 234 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(234) n = A,T,C or G 41 atacagncca cacttaactc acccttacac tcaaatcatt atgtcgacag atattgactt 60 accgaagtgc tattagacaa agagtcccgt caaggagagt gcctgaaagg agaaatgatg 120 aaagtactaa ctagagcaga taattacacc gtcgtacctt ttagctatat atgctattag 180 acttggatga attcattcat agacaaaatc cattaaacaa agaggctcga aaac 234 42 291 DNA Rattus norvegicus 42 ggacatgaca tgaccagtgt atctactgtg gtttctgcca ggaagcctgc cctgttgacg 60 ctatcgtgga gggccccaac tttgagttct ccaccgagac gcatgaggag ttgctgtaca 120 acaaggagaa gctactcaac aatggtgaca agtgggaggc cgagatcgcg gccaacatcc 180 aggctgacta cctgtatcgg tgaccgggcc accggtgacc ttgccacctg gccagccttg 240 tggcccctat agcccataaa gaaactctga tcccaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 291 43 113 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(113) n = A,T,C or G 43 cggttnccgc gggctgtagc gaactcgagc ggaccgtctc tcccggtaca gttattattt 60 atgtcactgg ctccttatta aagatcttta accctcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaa 113 44 197 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(197) n = A,T,C or G 44 tggggntcat tggcaataat gacctaggtn ttaacagtct tcctaagcat anaatttang 60 ctaaagcaag cccgacacct aanatcgacg tctatcgtaa nccantcacn cgtttcagng 120 acnctcaacn cgtactactt agacncaata gncgggnctc gatcgtntca ggatagcgtg 180 gtcanncgcg tatcacn 197 45 206 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(206) n = A,T,C or G 45 cacgttannt atggagcgcg ncgtactgac ttactcagtt tgcgttccct ttcctcgtta 60 tgccttactg aactatgtac ttgacatgta gtgctacact tgggagagtt gttagcgctc 120 tgctcccact ctctgtctac tcttcttgca tgtgtgggta ataaaggcgc ccggagaggg 180 caagtgacta aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 206 46 146 DNA Rattus norvegicus 46 tccaacttac gttactactc catttatgca caggttcgag ataaattaat ttttgtaata 120 tggacactga aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 146 47 181 DNA Rattus norvegicus 47 cagagacgcc gttcttgatt tattctcgcc cttcattccc atggcctgct gtctatgagt 60 acaaatagta atggtggacg tgactgcttg ttgccaaact ggaacatgtt ctgtaggggt 120 ttactggcat ggtatcattc ctaggaagaa gaagagggaa aaaaaagagg aaaaaaaaaa 180 a 181 48 272 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(272) n = A,T,C or G 48 cagccagcag gaccaaactc aatcacagta gataaatact atgtccctcc acgatgcgtt 60 gtcacgcgat gaggacaaga gaaatcgacg cgaccgaagt catgacagcg cgcgaacagc 120 ccaacgcgtg cacgcgaccc gacgccagga cgagagccga caagctgatc accaggagag 180 acacggagat aggatgcgcc aaggcagagc gaggacggcc agcaccagaa ggaagcgtgc 240 gcggtaggag tgactatgag cactgtagna gt 272 49 73 DNA Rattus norvegicus 49 atctgcttaa agtctttaat ttgtactatt tcttcaaata aagaattttg gtacccaaaa 60 aaaaaaaaaa aaa 73 50 125 DNA Rattus norvegicus 50 tccaaaatat ttctgtgaag ctcagtcctc tgttcctctt ttttattttt ttttgttcct 60 ctgtagacat gatggaggag tttactagaa aataacgtga gatgggagca ggaaaaaaaa 120 aaaaa 125 51 365 DNA Rattus norvegicus 51 aaacatggcg acgatgcaca gaccgaataa ctgtgtctta atcagagacc ctccctctag 60 cacccagcgt gccatctcct acctaggaac gagcaacttg ctcaaaggcg taggtgactt 120 gtgggccatt catctacaag tcctgatgga acaaggccca agactaaggg atgtaagaac 180 gacccattga tataacgtta ttagtcccag ccaatgtctt cggtgatatt cccagttgca 240 cttccctacg ttcgagaaca atccaacgag acactccaga ctcggtctgt gttaatgtcg 300 catagctccc cttttgtaca acataaacat tatactgtga tgtgaacaac taaaacaaaa 360 aaaaa 365 52 175 DNA Rattus norvegicus 52 tggaggagta cctagtatta ttgacatcag tccgccaggc gcaacaatta catttgttat 60 tctactgcgt acttacaggt acttgaattg gtcgaagtcc ttaattcaat gcctatgtat 120 tcacccttct agtaagcctg tagctacatg actcacacat acaaaaaaaa aaaaa 175 53 182 DNA Rattus norvegicus 53 cacagcgcct ctctgttcac cacggcgtag ttacgatata tctctagcta gttcttttac 60 attagttgac gtgtacttcc tcttgtgcag actgccgctg tccttgctcc actgatgggc 120 ctgagcagtg ggtaagaact ccgtatgtaa ttgccgatac taaccagcaa aaaaaaaaaa 180 aa 182 54 101 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(101) n = A,T,C or G 54 gggacgagcn canacgcgat ttccacgtta tcctcattct cataccagtc tctggcaata 60 gtagaagacc agatgttaca atgaaattaa taaaaaaaaa a 101 55 123 DNA Rattus norvegicus 55 ccgtccgtgg ggacgactat tatattttat tctttatctt ttctttctct ccagagacga 60 tgcggccgag agaactggag cctcctatat cagtaagtgc tcgcagccca aaaacaaaaa 120 aaa 123 56 76 DNA Rattus norvegicus 56 ctacgaaagg acaagagaat tggagcctcc ttaccataag tgctcccaac caatttatga 60 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 76 57 261 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(261) n = A,T,C or G 57 ccgngaaacg gctgatgtgt catctttgct tcctcaggta ataagtctta acaggcccgc 60 catcgttggt ctcatcaggt cctgctctct agaagtcgga tcagaaacag acttgaaaat 120 gtgccgaaga attgcatctt agggtccgac gaaaaatgta tatagttgct gagtcctgag 180 actcatgtgt gtgcacaaga aaacctggtt ttcccttaga atttacaact aaaggaagta 240 acaagaaaac aaaaaaaaaa a 261 58 269 DNA Rattus norvegicus 58 tctgcggtgc ccaccagtat actggagacg tacttgtaac agggcccagg catactctag 60 gtcctccatc acggacctgc ttctctcaga acgtcgagat cagaaacacg acttgaaaag 120 tgtgccggaa gaatttgcat cttagaggtc cgacaaaaaa tgtatatacg tttctgagct 180 cctgacgact catagtgtgt gcacaacgaa aacctggatt ttcccattag tatcctacac 240 ataaaggcaa gtaagcaaga acaaaaaaa 269 59 277 DNA Rattus norvegicus 59 cggggtgttt gtttcattct gtctaatgtg aattttgtgc ctgctcctat ctgctcccct 60 gtacccccag cttcctgctt ttctcccaca ttctgaactg tccagtcctg tgatgtgtct 120 gaccttggac tcttcctgaa ggagctccct aggcaggaat atggtcccct attcagacac 180 taggccaggt gtgactgggg ctctcttagt ggccctctta gtggatgtgt tggcaacctt 240 aataaatcta gtggcagtgg caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 277 60 228 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(228) n = A,T,C or G 60 cgggctgcat gacatatnga ctatccttga ctgcatctgt tccatcagca taatggaggt 60 catccccagg catggatccc acctttacac taggtcttaa cctagttacg tatacctact 120 cacgttatca cacctagtac ctcacgtagc taatacaagt ttgatactac atgacgcgtc 180 ccatatcttn tnatacgctt aggcncntct cggtcngagt agatcaaa 228 61 119 DNA Rattus norvegicus 61 gtttgtcttt ctttcctttc cttctgtttc ttttatccta ctgtgaccca cttatgcaaa 60 accacaggta tactcactac tatctcatat ttctagcgct acgaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 119 62 117 DNA Rattus norvegicus 62 aagaaacgga gggagaccgg agagctgccc gctactgtcg gtaatctatc tcagtgtgga 60 caagatatgt agggtagtgt gtagtatgct agtgtactag gccaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 117 63 217 DNA Rattus norvegicus 63 agcactcctc cacacaccac gactccgtct ttaagccgac gttctagcac cagtatccca 60 aactcaccct actcatagag tcatagaagc caatgcctaa tcccattctg agcaacatat 120 acactagaac agtctatatc tccgccacag tcattagatg aacaaaggct aatactgaga 180 ttagatagac cttgtcaagg ggttggcaaa acaaaaa 217 64 269 DNA Rattus norvegicus 64 cccagtttcg ttcgattaag tcagcgcacg ttcggagggt agtactatct acccagtaga 60 gatcctatgt gcaatgcagg aagaactata gctgctgtag tgtagcgtgt acttcagtat 120 acatcctgca taccacaaca accccaccac gcacccccgc ggttcataac acccgagggt 180 caccgtggcc acaacttcgt gtcacgctat tcttgttaca tctggccaac attactcacc 240 ccaccatata caactcgtta tccccacaa 269 65 162 DNA Rattus norvegicus 65 tctgtatacc gcattagagg cttgtagtat ccatccctct gtcacactta gtattcacat 60 ggtgcgtact ttcgtgtata ttcaaactct ctgttaccct gacaaaatcc aaacttttgc 120 tgttcacatc acatatgatg cacaattcaa aacaaaaaaa aa 162 66 200 DNA Rattus norvegicus 66 cggggaagaa agcaggctgc caggtgtgtc ctgtctcatg atacagaaat ggtttccttt 60 cggttattat tctggagcct caaatagcat tataacgttc tgtgattatg attgccttta 120 tctttaatta tttctgtaac actccacact agtcttggga aaccggcccc ttattttaga 180 gagaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 200 67 182 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(182) n = A,T,C or G 67 tggtgnttct gtcctggact cctccagaca gcatggagga attctgtttt aagattatct 60 tggagtttaa gtgattgccc tggaaaaatg aaatgtacca accatgtgga aatgacagct 120 acgtgtacat tatgtatgaa atgccaaata gagggacaag ttgggagata aaaaaaaaaa 180 aa 182 68 207 DNA Rattus norvegicus 68 cgtgagttaa tgagcttcga gccttaccac tctcccttta aatcaggaag tgcataggct 60 aattactatc agtcccgata tatttgttaa aggaacacct acaagatcct tactggtgac 120 cttctgtgag acactagttt gaggcactac atgtgtactt gaaaataata aagttgcatt 180 tctttatgaa taaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 207 69 268 DNA Rattus norvegicus 69 gtgtgtgatg agattatgtg atggggaggc tgaacacagt tctatatttt agtatttttt 60 agtaatttgt actgtatttt tccttgcaga tattgaagtt atgaaccatt tactttgtgt 120 tctactgagt aagatgactt gttgactgtg aaagtgaatt ttcttgctgt gttgaacaat 180 caggactgcg ttcacttgag atccttgtag aataagcaca ggccgttttt cactttggta 240 ttgatacaat gtaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 268 70 285 DNA Rattus norvegicus 70 gacatacttc acgcgaatat atgactggat gtacagttac ccagcacgtg ttcctcctcc 60 tcctcccatt gctcgagctg tggtgccttc caaacgccag cgtgtgtcgg ggaacacctc 120 acgaaggggc aaaagtggat tcaattcaaa gagtggacaa cggggatctt cttccaaatc 180 tggaaagttg aaaggtgatg accttcaggc cattaaaaag gagctgactc agataaaaca 240 aaaagtggat tctctgctgg aaagcctgga aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 285 71 158 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(158) n = A,T,C or G 71 atggacgacg gtgaatgcag gactgggctg tcgtgtagca tcaccaccac cttcacatag 60 taaccccatc gttggagcac agaggaagga agatcatcag ngcagcttgg gctacttagc 120 agaccctgtt ccaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaca caccacag 158 72 144 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(144) n = A,T,C or G 72 gagccgaggt gatgcctcgt agtctctctc tctgttgntc tcttctggtg gtgacggggt 60 tatcccttcc cagttgtatt atattcctgt ggggcacatc ccaaagtatt aaaagtagct 120 tagtaattca aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 144 73 250 DNA Rattus norvegicus 73 aggcgcacta gagatcagaa ttacgctctc ctttccacat cagatgtgaa aactgtgatc 60 acaacagtag tacagtttgg tttcattgaa aataaactga attctaaagc atgctttttc 120 actggtccct ttgcttttgc tacttcgaga cctcttggtt tatataacac tgaggttaag 180 attaaagctt ttcagaatgc caggcaaaga ctagagtttt gacccgaaca cacacacaaa 240 aaaaaaaaaa 250 74 122 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(122) n = A,T,C or G 74 ggaaagtagt ggtggtagcg tgtanttctt atattatgtg ttacatatgt gtcgtctata 60 tatataagta catcccttag aactgctagg accatctcag aactgcacaa aaaaaaaaaa 120 aa 122 75 157 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(157) n = A,T,C or G 75 ggtccanngg taatannttt acctngtgtt tattgnngta tatagctcac tccgttacgt 60 tcttgtctag gcgtggccct anacggggac ttgagtaaat caccgtgatg ctcatgcccg 120 atgtaaggga taagagatgt acaaaaaaaa acaacaa 157 76 107 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(107) n = A,T,C or G 76 gggattggtg tggcttcttg tntaatctgt ctattcttct ggtggtgatg tgttgtgtag 60 tatatgttac gcagtcatta gcacgggagg taagcaaaaa aaaaaaa 107 77 254 DNA Rattus norvegicus 77 tgcgacgtga gacacctgct ccctctctgg tgtatttata catacgtgga cagaaacaac 60 tcgtctgttt attgactcac cctcggtctg agacagcggt gctgtaacag aagtagatgc 120 ctgaactcga gtcaatatac aaatcaataa tgtatgctct ctttctctct ttacattctg 180 gtcactacac tacagttatg aaatgggatg ctagtgtctt ggacagccca aaaaattggc 240 cgctcgtaac aaaa 254 78 208 DNA Rattus norvegicus 78 aggcatccta tctgctaggc tactgtgaat ttgctctcca gtctacctgc ctgagcagtg 60 tgcatctact attgacagga gagtctgctc ccagacactc tgcctttccc tccacaatcc 120 tcgtcattcc gcatcctcat ggtaaactag gtcacgacgg cagtgcaatg cgtaaataac 180 cgaggtggac tttcgaatgt acaaacaa 208 79 300 DNA Rattus norvegicus 79 aacggtagtt gaccagtacg gattgactga tccttgtgtt ttcctcttgc aattggcccc 60 aaacatgtcc ctggcaagtg gagtgaaggc tttttgtcta aagatgacta gggtcagctc 120 aggagttgtg ggggagggcg ttttcatctt ccccgttgtc acttagaggt ttcgaactct 180 ggtgtaaaga ggccgtttat ctttgtaaac acaaaacatt tttgctttct ccggtttcat 240 gttaatggcg aaagaatgga agcgaataaa cgtttcactg actttttgaa acaaaaaaaa 300 80 192 DNA Rattus norvegicus 80 cacgagagga gaacatttaa cttttggtca gcagaatgaa ggaagcaaag agaagcgcca 60 ggaacagatt gtcaagagca cgtaggctgt cttcgctgag agcttctact tctaaatctg 120 agtccagtca aaaataagtc tttaaagagt caacaaataa ataatgagca ccttgaaaaa 180 aaaaaaaaaa aa 192 81 300 DNA Rattus norvegicus 81 gcaaaataac tgactgctca cccccgcttc tcatcaccag gacagcaggt cgagaaatgt 60 ctttccttgc acttgcttct ggggtttgtg attcttctaa ttttccccct tgctgtatct 120 ccctccttac cccctccact cgttccctgt ttctgtttat gcggaaatgg cagaaacgct 180 tgagaaatgc gaatgtgtaa gtggactgga agtttatagt ctggattttc aattttactt 240 tgtactgtac atctttttac tttagaattt gcaataaagg gttacgtcaa aaaaaaaaaa 300 82 328 DNA Rattus norvegicus 82 ggtatcgtga gagcaaaata aactgtactg ctccacccac cgcttctcat caccaggaca 60 gcaggtcgag aaatgtcttt ccttgcactt gcttctgggg tttgtgattc ttctaatttt 120 cccccttgct gtatctccct ccttaccccc tccactcgtt ccctgttctg tttatgcgga 180 aatggcagaa acgcttgaga aatgcgaatg tgtaagtgga ctggaagttt atagtctgga 240 ttttcaattt tactttgtac tgtacatctt tttactttag aatttgcaat aaagggttac 300 gtcaatcttg tttccaaaaa aaaaaaaa 328 83 186 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(186) n = A,T,C or G 83 aacgcanaag agctancgag caacccgant gtacttcacc ggagactggg tgaccggacc 60 tcactgcggc atttctgcag ggccatctgg acatggcgcc taggtcagcg aggtgcagca 120 caggcttgac gtattcgagc gattgcccta taagtccgac ggctcaatta aacacacaaa 180 caaaaa 186 84 370 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(370) n = A,T,C or G 84 ctggcggtat acgtctcaat cccttagtta tnttatctaa gtctgggtgt gtacctagtg 60 tcacacatga ctagcatatg acctaactgt atgggcagtc tatggatttc ggacttccgc 120 tcctccctcc ctcctgatcc ctcgctggtt cgtggcatga tccgtaatag actctggtta 180 aaatccatcg tcggtggttg cagcttcctc atatacgcga gctgtgagtg gtattaggtc 240 atgcacccct cacagtgcat ggtcgcgata ctctacgcta atccatcata ggcttcggga 300 ttaacagctt cttcacgttg ctgagacagc aagaaacaaa caatatggct cctctcccaa 360 aaaacaacac 370 85 441 DNA Rattus norvegicus 85 cgaatacatc atggcgtctc tcatagagtt tgatggcgaa gacatcacga ctagaatcat 60 gaactacaaa accgcccgct ttgacagccg cttccaaacc agaaccagac taagaactgc 120 tggcagaact acctggactt ccaccgctgt gagaaggcaa tgacggcaaa gggcggtgac 180 gtctccgatg tgcgagtggt accggcgagt gtacaagtcc ctctgccccg tctcatgggt 240 ctcagcctgg gatgaccgca tagcagaagg cacatttcct gggaagatct gacctggctc 300 cgcccacctc tcctctgctc tttgaccttc tccccgatag aaaaggggga cctcagtata 360 tgatggtccc tatcctggga ccctgaatca tgatgcaact actaataaaa actcactgga 420 aaggttacaa aaaaaaaaaa a 441 86 412 DNA Rattus norvegicus 86 gtgcagctag tcacttctag cgactgtggc aggctttgat ggcccaatgc agttctctgg 60 agaaaactac ctttccccaa ggcatctgca cccattgaca atggtaatgt gcccatctct 120 ccttggtcct gccctcaacc gatgcttttc cagtcagggt tttgtttttt gttttgtttt 180 gtgtacctca actgagttat gaagatttgt actggtttta cagatcatct catcgtatgg 240 attagaacaa gcttcgtggt cagtttgctg ggtgaccggc agacaccaca atcaaactag 300 tctgggaaaa acctgctttt ttgttgtagg tgccacgtaa ccctgtcagt ttaacaagga 360 atgaccgtgc caataaacca attctccctc tgcttgaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 412 87 149 DNA Rattus norvegicus 87 cgttaggcgc agtcgtacag gcgtactgtt tctctatcta cttgctgctc gggtcagatg 60 cgacttcaaa tctagatggg acgccgtagg tccatgtatg ctaatgaggg gtgagctagt 120 attacttatt atcaggaagc aaaaaaaaa 149 88 207 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature (1)...(207) n = A,T,C or G 88 actagtagag ttcgaantag tctcgttaga tccggaatgt acctcgccga gatcagactg 60 ggaaaatgac tacctttctc acaacgaaaa cagtcccggt ggccctctgc cctggacctt 120 tgggattctg ggactagttc tgttctctag tggccaattg taactcgtgt acaataaacc 180 ctcttgctgt caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 207 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for characterizing a stroke status, the development and/or occurrence of stroke, and/or the progression of the pathology of stroke, and/or consequences of stroke, comprising: a) detecting a level of expression of at least two gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, in a test sample from an individual with stroke; b) detecting a level of expression of said at least two gene sequences in a control sample; and c) comparing the levels of expression in the test and control samples, thereby characterizing the stroke status.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control sample is from an individual without stroke.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control sample is derived from a cell line.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual is an animal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual is a human.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein said individual is an animal.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein said individual is a human.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the test sample and control sample are derived independently from a source selected from the group consisting of whole tissues, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, isolated cells, and cell lines.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the test sample and control sample are derived independently from an in vivo sample, an in vitro sample, or an ex vivo sample.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the levels of expression in the test sample are increased relative to the levels of expression in the control sample.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the levels of expression in the test sample are decreased relative to the levels of expression in the control sample.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a level of expression of said at least two gene sequences in the test sample prior to and following administration of a stroke treatment; and comparing the levels of expression prior to and following administration, thereby assessing the efficacy of the stroke treatment.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual is an animal used in an animal model for studying stroke.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the animal is subjected to a stroke.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the animal is administered a compound that may alter the stroke status.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting at least four gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, in the test sample and the control sample.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting at least six gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, in the test sample and the control sample.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting at least eight gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, in the test sample and the control sample.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting at least ten gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, in the test sample and the control sample.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said stroke is ischemic stroke.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said stroke is hemorrhagic stroke.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the level of expression in the test sample and control sample further comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of PCR of a cDNA, hybridization of a sample DNA, and detecting one or more polypeptides encoded by said at least two gene sequences or homologues or fragments thereof.
 23. A method for characterizing a stroke status, the development and/or occurrence of stroke, and/or the progression of the pathology of stroke, and/or consequences of stroke, comprising: a) providing a test sample comprising a cell or a body fluid expressing a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof; b) detecting expression of said polynucleotide in said test sample; c) comparing the expression of said polynucleotide in said test sample to expression of the same polynucleotide in a reference sample whose expression stage is known; and d) identifying a difference in the levels of expression between said test sample and said reference sample, thereby characterizing the stroke status.
 24. A method for identifying a therapeutic agent for treating stroke in a subject, comprising: a) providing a test cell capable of expressing a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof; b) detecting expression of said polynucleotide sequence in said test cell; c) contacting said test cell with the therapeutic agent; d) detecting expression of said polynucleotide sequence in said test cell contacted with the therapeutic agent; e) comparing the expression of said polynucleotide sequence in step (b) to the expression of said polynucleotide sequence in step (d); and f) identifying a change in expression of said polynucleotide in the presence of the therapeutic agent, thereby identifying the therapeutic agent for treating stroke.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said stroke is ischemic.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said stroke is hemorrhagic.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein detecting expression of said polynucleotide further comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of PCR of a cDNA, hybridization of a sample DNA, and detecting a polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide or homologue or fragment thereof.
 28. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, or a polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide.
 29. A kit comprising a reagent for detecting a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof.
 30. A vector, comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof.
 31. A host cell, comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof.
 32. An antibody that selectively binds to a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof.
 33. A transgenic animal, comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 88 or homologues or fragments thereof, wherein said polynucleotide has been altered compared to a wild type phenotype. 